Campers excited as Iconic Airstream set to relaunch in the UK

The iconic American Airstream brand will officially relaunch in the UK at October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show 2017, the UK’s largest leisure vehicle show.

After a couple of years’ absence, Airstream returns with the appointment of a new UK distributor. Three new models for the UK include the flagship four-berth Colorado retailing at £99,195.00, as well as the smaller Yukon and Missouri models. The unmistakeably aerodynamic, silver-bullet Airstream shape is handcrafted with a buck-riveted aluminium bodyshell over a ribbed frame, with visible aluminium inside as well as out. A UK specification includes leather upholstery as standard, Corian worktops, hand-crafted cabinets, central heating and LED lighting throughout.

Manufactured since the 1930s, 70% of Airstreams made are still in use around the world, with celebrity owners including Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey.

Touring and holiday parks are gearing up for the busy August bank holiday: the industry contributes an estimated £6 billion to the UK economy*. It is estimated that almost £2 billion was spent on caravan holidays across Great Britain in 2016, with over 50 million nights spent in caravans each year. The industry employs some 130,000 people and there are over 1.7 million caravaners and motorhomers in the UK. An estimated 555,000 touring caravans, 205,000 motorhomes and over 300,000 caravan holiday homes are in use in the UK.

The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2017 runs from 17 to 22 October at Birmingham’s NEC. The launchpad for new 2018 products, over 700 vehicles are displayed including motorhomes, tourers, campervans, caravan holiday homes and residential park homes. New models are launched daily from manufacturers such as Swift – the appointed Airstream importer – Bailey, Hymer, Auto-Trail, Hillside Leisure and Opus. With cooking a theme of this year’s event, celebrity chefs including Antonio Carluccio, Lisa Faulkner and Steve Groves give demonstrations from new vehicles in the show’s LIVE Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now for the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2017, and start from as little as £8.50**. Children 15 and under enter free. Visit www.mcshow.co.uk or call 0844 873 7333.

New Camping Equipment and Tent Showroom for Holmfirth

Camping equipment internet specialist Campmania has acquired new 15,000 sq. ft. premises that could be destined to become one of the largest tent and camping equipment retail destination sites in the Yorkshire and Manchester region.

Campmania, which is one of the largest sellers of Gelert, Coleman and CampinGaz tents and equipment in the UK, has been actively seeking a suitable site to re-house its head office, to extend its Internet services and to offer full retail to existing and new customers in the region.

After nearly five years of searching, Campmania recently acquired the five storey building close to its present location in Holmfirth near Huddersfield. The building was a former theatre, cafe bar and restaurant owned by the former Cragrats empire.

“The building is perfect, not only to house our Internet sales businesses and customer services teams but also to extend our services to retailing. Through the Internet, we are constantly asked by customers if they can view tents or other camping items. With the plans for retail, we will be in a position to offer this facility whilst, at the same time, offering key service and the same great Internet prices,” commented managing director Sara Longden.

Plans for the building include the formation of dedicated retail camping equipment, outdoor clothing, footwear and skiwear departments, a focus on high levels of customer service and a stylish panoramic cafe bar on the top floor. Being located in the Pennine town of Holmfirth, the site is hoped to become a destination for walkers, mountain bikers and campers, adding to the existing attraction of the surrounding beauty of the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ countryside.

“We are excited by the prospects the building brings. Being a former cafe bar and restaurant, it is in excellent condition with lots of natural light and a great deal of character,” added Ms. Longden.“Having researched what else is in the region, we are confident that we will create something that is totally unique; a true high quality destination venue that doesn’t exist anywhere outside key National Park towns.

“We plan to extend our Internet customer services offerings onto the shop floor. In particular, we will concentrate on providing high levels of service to those who are new to walking, camping or skiing. We aim to guide customers though the process on a one to one basis. A service which just isn’t possible over the Internet.”

Also planned are links with local organisations and councils to offer weekly walks and mountain bike rides from the premises, whilst the proposed cafe will also provide a central meeting point for those pursuing outdoor activities in the area.

Further information by visiting www.campmania.co.uk or by calling the customer services team on 0870 495 5500.

Guest Tent Review – Gelert Stratus 4

Sarah of WildDunk Camping explains why, for her family, the Gelert Stratus 4 is absolutely perfect

I have been camping since I was 2 years old, along with brownies, guides, DofE and as a parent myself. My hubby of 20 years Duncan, known as Dunk to family and friends is ex TA and a wild camp enthusiast. Together we share our wild camping adventures to help you find your love for the great outdoors and reconnect with nature, safely and respectfully.

The Gelert Stratus tunnel tent is the second tent we have purchased as a family. As a child growing up we always camp at either Cornwall or Tenby in Wales and had one of these large 6 berth frame tents and I remember standing having to hold up the poles along with my siblings while dad struggled to get the canvas attached and as big as it was it was heavy and difficult to put up. So when we became parents and we camped ourselves we knew we were definitely going for something a bit more modern and easier to put up with the new lightweight fibreglass pole tents.

Our first purchase was a cheap disaster off ebay, never again.

The decision to purchase the Gelert Stratus was researched more and seen ‘up in the flesh’ at a store before buying. It is so easy to put up and roomy. Takes the hubby and I around half an hour from bag to pitch.

I cannot remember the exact price we paid but I think it was £99.99, which I think was excellent value. It sleeps 2 adults and 2 teenage boys, all on camp beds, and 2 Jack Russells comfortably. The ‘living’ area is surprising large and fits all our equipment including table, chairs & cooker.

Head room is more than sufficient.  Really good and recommended ‘starter tent’ or ‘weekend break tent’.

We love this tent and have had many lovely holidays away in it. Next year plan to spend a week in it at the UK annual Bushmoot Bushcraft Gathering so can do more detailed review and update as a follow up then.

You can read more about the bushmoot event on our blog at https://www.wilddunkcamping.co.uk/single-post/Bushmoot-Bushcraft-Event

Here’s the technical stuff:

Fabric:Outer: 190T Polyester with waterproof PU coating Inner: 190T breathable. Polyester Groundsheet: Polyethylene

• Outer: L442 x W290 x H190cm. Inner: L210 x W270 x H180cm
• Rising groundsheet attached to bedroom
• Side door access straight into bedroom
• Adjustable tension straps
• Front & 2 side entrances with porch poles
• Quick pitching, outer first
• Electric cable zip access point
• Double guying system for increased stability
• Pre-attached guylines aid pitching
• Bright guylines for extra visibility
• Poles: 3 x 11mm Fibreglass
• Extension: 2 x 16mm Steel porch poles
• Taped seams

Weight: 14.250 kg

Manufacturer’s images:

East Yorkshire mum throws annual 300 person music festival – in her back garden!

On first inspection, Laura Murrell’s garden is like most in the area: a lawn, flower beds, potting sheds, a garage and a workshop. It’s only the 18 foot stage that makes it a little different.

Laura started her own music festival 10 years ago in 2007 after becoming frustrated with her local music scene.  Laura explains:

“I was in a band myself at the time. We’d spend months writing and practising our songs, only to go and play in a deserted pub corner to nobody. It was really disheartening.”

“I was determined there had to be a better way. I knew there was people out there who really loved music and would relish the opportunity to listen to original bands; it was really just a case of bringing those people and the music together in one event.”

That event became Sunk Fest, a 300 person music festival complete with all-weather covered stage. On Sunk Fest weekend, catering vans park on her driveway, those inconspicuous garden sheds open up to reveal fully installed flushing toilets (the height of festival luxury I’m sure you’ll all agree) and the workshop becomes a sound engineering suite. The festival also features a fully licenced bar and camp site.

Now in it’s tenth year, the Sunk Fest stage has been graced with performances by over 200 different bands over the years. This year will host over 20 different bands over 2 days in a variety of genres: from rock to acoustic to pop to punk and everything in between. This year sees bands coming from as far as Poland, Spain and Scotland.

“Sunk Fest is the place to discover new music and see bands before they get too famous in an intimate setting. We seek out only the best, the cream of the underground crop. Every year we have hundreds of bands apply to play and we also have our ‘Sunk Scouts’ who look out for raw talent throughout the year.”

Described as the festival scene’s ‘best kept secret’, Sunk Fest really is a hidden gem on the events calendar. It’s 300 capacity coupled with the setting of Laura’s own garden at her home makes this feel like some sort of crazy house party: a house party to end all house parties.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is all this is done not for profit: Laura and her team of volunteers organise and run the festival for no financial gain at all.

“We get asked “Why?” a lot! Why do all this organising and put yourselves under this much stress for no profit at all? The simple answer is we love it. We absolutely love music and we love helping our artists and we love discovering new talent. Going through the applications every year and hearing the quality of music on offer is just amazing. Then to see them up there on this stage we built with our bare hands, performing to a crowd who are there because they love music too, with everyone having an amazing time… there is no better feeling in the world.

We feel there has never been a more exciting time for unsigned bands: the sheer variety and quality of applicants we receive every year is vast, and we want to give a home to underground music in our area and further afield. We want to give them a large crowd who appreciates them, and we want to give the crowd music they will fall in love with. But most of all, we want people to have a great time and go away with some fantastic memories. That’s our ethos: passion, not profit.”

In line with the ‘passion not profit’ motto, Laura and her team believe in giving everyone a fair deal. A full weekend camping ticket costs just £25. There is a very inexpensive bar on site selling well known drink brands and local ales, but festival goers are also allowed to bring their own drinks.

Sunk Fest will be held on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd of July 2017. To buy tickets just head to www.sunkfest.co.uk

5 reasons to em-bark on a staycation this Autumn

So-called ‘staycations’ – holidays booked by Brits in the UK as opposed to abroad – are on the increase. And not just in the summer season – but autumn/winter also. Searches and bookings for UK-based holidays have increased by almost a quarter in 2017 compared with last year, according to Sojern, a travel marketing company.

There are many reasons for this including uncertainty over Brexit, the weak pound and the terrorism threat.

But this is also good news for our dogs. People who holiday in their own country, and especially campers, are far more likely to take their pet with them, something that John Burns, veterinary surgeon and owner of Burns Pet Nutrition, a family company in Wales that makes specialist foods designed for the health and well-being of pets, welcomes.

Here, John highlights five reasons why staycations are not only beneficial for dogs and their owners, but for the UK economy.

1.      Reducing dog obesity

With more than 3.8 million dogs in the UK classed as obese or overweight, there is a growing concern among vets that this statistic is set to rise. Results from a study carried out by the British Veterinary Association shows that more than 60 per cent of vets say obesity is the biggest health and welfare concern for UK pets.

Taking dogs on holiday provides a boost to the standard daily exercise they are used to. Additionally, it will allow dogs to benefit mentally from experiencing and walking in a new environment. And with staycations on the rise for the autumn/winter season, dogs are getting additional exercise which they may otherwise have been limited to due to weather conditions at home.

Aside from choosing the correct nutritional food, exercise is vital to ensure your dog remains at a healthy weight.

2.      Improving the human-animal bond

The human-animal bond is something which is often taken for granted, however its importance should not be over-looked or underestimated.

Ensuring that the human-animal bond is strong, mutually benefits the well-being of both humans and their pets. Not only does it help your dog to lose weight and become healthier, it’s also a great bonding exercise.

When you go walking somewhere new there are lots of exciting smells and surroundings to explore, providing excellent mental stimulation and exercise for both dog and human. Win, win!

3.      It can be much cheaper

 In addition to avoiding the additional travel costs of flights and airport parking, overseas holidays have also become more expensive because the value of the pound has fallen so sharply since the UK voted to leave the European Union. Conversely, this means it is also cheaper for tourists to come here – 37.2 million people visited the UK in 2016, a three per cent increase on the previous year.

While this may be hiking the costs of hotel rooms in the UK, a break at home is still significantly cheaper than travelling overseas and it may also prepare the family for any restrictions that do emerge once the Brexit process has been completed.

Furthermore, more and more UK residents are choosing an autumn/winter staycation as an alternative to a summer one. Why? With Halloween, Bonfire Night and of course, the run up to Christmas, there are lots of staycation destinations putting on family and dog friendly activities and events celebrating these occasions.

4.      Businesses more ‘dog-friendly’

While exact statistics are hard to come by, there has been a steady rise in recent years in the number of hotels and other forms of businesses willing to accommodate pets. Some have discovered this can be a lucrative and relatively niche market; others are simply responding to a growing demand from pet owners hoping to take their dog on a staycation.

When it comes to campsites, it’s even easier.  Most sites now welcome well-behaved dogs, though no matter where you stay, it’s normal to have to keep your dogs on the lead and walk them only in certain areas.  According to research conducted by The Kennel Club, many businesses are already seeing the economic benefits. Some 97 percent of dog-friendly pubs believe that making dogs welcome has greatly improved business.

This trend makes life much easier for pet owners wanting to share a break with their canine friends. It is not just about accommodation: more restaurants, cafes, pubs, beaches and other tourist attractions will allow dogs now making a holiday more enjoyable for all.

5.      Appreciate the UK

The UK is home to some of the most idyllic scenic views in the world, so why travel far and wide when extraordinary experiences are on your doorstep?

With numerous dog-friendly beaches and national parks at popular locations such as Cornwall, Wales, Devon and the Lake District, holidaying in the UK with your pet is the perfect opportunity to gift them with exercise they can enjoy, while taking in breath-taking views yourself.

Brecon Beacons – sheer beauty, but prepare before you go!

The Brecon Beacons are home to some of Wales’ most beautiful scenery – but don’t let beauty deceive you.  Many of the peaks can be challenging, and you don’t want to add your name to the list of callouts carried out each year by the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team.

The team offer an emergency service staffed entirely by volunteers and funded purely by donations. They operate principally in mid Wales, working from the Brecon Beacons National Park north to Plynlimon, from the Welsh borderland westward, through mid Wales, to the Ceredigion coast, though they regularly work throughout south, mid & west Wales & around the English border.

Even the fittest, most prepared walkers can succumb to illness and injury in the wrong weather, evidenced by the tragic death of 3 soldiers who  collapsed and died after taking part in a training exercise for the SAS’s tough selection process which involved marching up 886-metre high Pen Y Fan and down the other side carrying a weighted pack and rifle, then doing the route in reverse, in a set time, on a hot summer day.

However, throughout the UK, many of the mountain rescue callouts are for walkers who are inadequately prepared, with inappropriate footwear or inadequate equipment for walking conditions. Wales Online even shared a photo this January of a woman almost at the top of the region’s highest peak, in the snow, wearing high heeled boots!  

Brecon Mountain Rescue suggest walkers take the following precautions in order to have an enjoyable and safe time exploring the hills:

Check the weather!

Get a reliable local weather forecast before you set off. The weather in the Beacons can change quickly. It gets colder the higher you go and wind-chill will have a significant effect on your body. At a given air temperature, wind speed reduces the temperature experienced by the body by an amazing amount – don’t under estimate its effect.

Plan your route

The team advise pre-planning a route that is suitable for the weakest member of your party and suitable for the forecasted weather (and be prepared in case the weather worsens).  It’s also important to let someone know where you are going and let them know which route you are taking too – let them know what time you expect to be back, and if your plans change, give them a call! Don’t just go wandering either, have a map covering your route and a compass. Know how to use both.

What to take

Ideally walkers should have first aid training, but in any case, take a first aid kit with you – you never know when it may be needed.

Take appropriate clothing including waterproofs, spare warm clothes (lots of layers trap more warm air), hat and gloves, enough food and drink for the planned trip plus a bit extra for the unplanned part.  Take a torch & a survival bag (if you don’t have one or know what one is get down to your local gear shop now, they cost next to nothing and may save your life).  

Footwear wise, while many have successfully climbed Pen y Fan in trainers (and worse!), they don’t support the foot well and proper walking boots are inexpensive and offer significantly better protection.  A simple sprained ankle at 886m could make your descent at least slow and painful and at worst impossible – why risk it? 

Don’t rely on tech!

Everyone assumes their phone will work anywhere, but any tech can give a false sense of security.  Try to avoid relying on communications or position finding technology. A GPS is a great piece of kit, but when it breaks, the batteries go flat because of the cold or you drop it, you’re on your own. Get a map & compass. The best maps in the world are made by Ordnance Survey & cover the whole of the UK. The 1:25,000 Explorer series will give you more detail than you could ask for, but make sure you know how to read it. (You’d be amazed..! ) There is a very good reason why every MRT and professional outdoor activity provider uses these maps!

When plans go astray

If things start to go wobbly, don’t panic. Don’t immediately get out your mobile phone and dial 999 (or your Mum, ‘cos she’ll dial 999 for you), unless it’s a medical emergency.

If you find yourself lost, don’t panic – use that map and compass.  Try and work out where you are, use any visual or navigation aides available and do talk to strangers! Is it the end of the world if you walk down a route you hadn’t planned to?

How to contact the rescue team

If you REALLY need rescuing, make it easy for your rescuers to reach you quickly.  Work out your 6-figure grid reference and throw in a description of some geographical features, use your mobile phone to dial 999, or if it isn’t working, send someone (or two if there are enough in your party to leave one behind with the casualty) to the nearest phone and dial 999. Mobiles often get a better signal higher up a hill – but don’t put yourself at risk.

 Ask for Police then when you get through to them; ask for ‘Mountain Rescue’.

 They will contact the appropriate Mountain Rescue Team. The system takes time – it’s not like calling an ambulance to a street. You will need to be able to tell them the number of casualties, the nature of the injury or illness and their location with six-figure grid reference. The less information you can give, the longer the process takes. You will need to stay near the phone because the Mountain Rescue Team will want to call you back. You will probably be asked to wait where you are while someone comes to speak to you, although don’t expect ambulances and flashing lights to necessarily come your way, you may not have come down the quickest or easiest way.

Be patient

The whole process of a mountain rescue can take several hours, or more – so don’t expect the team to zip over in a helicopter and whip you away.

Work out how long it took you to get where you are, and add on travelling time for mountain rescue to get to the road head. This will give you a rough idea of how long it will take them to reach you.  The team’s work is normally done on foot – so if you are cold/wet/hungry, you’ll be really thankful for those extra supplies in your kit bag!

In the meantime, if someone in your party is injured, remember that the casualty is, presumably, not moving much and not keeping warm in the way your body is. If it’s not going to compromise the casualty’s condition or safety, try and insulate them from the ground and wind – even in summer.  (People can become hypothermic quickly, even in summer.)

Enjoy the hills – and donate!

Most of the time, the walks are great, and your only challenge will be getting a great selfie at the windy peak!  In fact the path up Pen y Fan from Storey Arms is so wide and well-trodden it’s nicknamed the motorway!  However, should the weather change dramatically, or you get lost, a little preparation will make the difference that gets you down safely.

Taking precautions means you will be able to enjoy the hills – and if you really enjoy them, think about making a donation to support the fantastic work of the mountain rescue team who keep walkers safe.

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‘Bottled mountain air’ – the latest trend, or just hot air?

Start-up company Swiss Alpine Air have this week launched their new  product – bottled Swiss mountain air.

The product promises to give people dwelling in heavily polluted cities the chance to breathe bursts of fresh clean air from a hand-held canister.

The company claims to collect the cleanest, purest air from the Swiss Alpine region and compress it into a handy aerosol.  The product also comes complete with an integral face mask so users can breathe the air in.

So is the product viable?

Certainly, polluted air is a growing problem.  According to the WHO, 98% of cities with populations of over 100,000 low to middle income people don’t have satisfactory air quality.

In some of the world’s mega cities such as Beijing and Delhi the problem has a direct impact on people’s health and wellbeing.  The Swiss Alps on the other hand, have crisp, unpolluted air.

So is the concept as far fetched as it sounds?

The Swiss company are certainly not the first to try to sell air.  One businessman already makes an income from selling canned air to wealthy chinese residents of heavily-polluted Beijing, while for some inexplicable reason a British expat in turn sells Beijing’s polluted air to souvenir collectors.  It seems that almost anything sells online.

Certainly, the company believe they will have a good market for their product.  A company spokesman explained they believe it is just a matter of time before selling fresh air becomes more widespread:

“Over forty years ago, people raised eyebrows about the concept of bottled water. Today it’s second nature to grab a bottle of Evian or Perrier.

“Each year so many tourists flock here to the Swiss Alps to enjoy the invigorating experience of its mountain vistas, and to breathe in the virgin pure air. It’s just a simple case of exporting the great Alpine air we have. We already export Swiss Alpine water, chocolate and cheese. Why not export our clean air too? It is the best air in the world!”

Polluted areas of China and India are the primary targets for Swiss Alpine Air, with the company already planning a branch in Beijing. The company also has its eye on the European commuter market.

“I heard the London underground was over 35 degrees this summer, I am sure they would love a breath of clean fresh air down there. I know what it’s like to have your nose stuck in someone else’s armpit on the tube!” Said CEO Danny Wurr.

In many of the world’s more polluted regions, weekend travel to mountainous regions simply isn’t an option.  At least for the time being, in the UK we can still experience the feeling on fresh, mountain air simply by driving to the nearest range, climbing a peak, breathing in the fresh air and maybe even indulging a little longer by camping on top.

However, for those who want the benefits without the climb, Swiss Alpine Air is now available to buy online.  The new 7 litre canisters come complete with an easy breathing mask and retails at SFr 19.95 (USD 21.00) (EUR 17.50) (GBP 16.50) and contain enough air for over 120 breaths of pure, clean Swiss Alpine Air with discounts for multiple purchases.

Will this be the next big thing, like bottled water, or will it just be a mass of hot air?  We await the outcome with interest.

The company is, meanwhile, seeking investors to facilitate its rapid growth in the new breathable air market.